VIC:Vic church man jailed for sex with boy

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2011
VIC:Vic church man jailed for sex with boy

By Belinda Merhab

MELBOURNE, April 12 AAP - A church youth leader who claimed he had sex with a boy to
help rescue him from homosexuality has been jailed for eight months.

Daniel Rogers was supposed to be a spiritual leader for young members of a Melbourne
Baptist church when he had sex with the boy, 15, following a church event on July 17,
2009.

The boy had earlier confided to the 20-year-old youth leader in an internet chatroom
that he was confused about his sexuality.

On the night of the offences, the boy asked Rogers if he had thought about having sex with him.

When Rogers told the boy he could not, the boy replied: "I understand that, but you're
the one who offered."

The pair then went to the church toilet where they engaged in sexual contact.

The matter was referred to police a year later, after the boy told a pastor at the
church what had happened.

Rogers made a full admission.

He pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act with a child, two counts of taking
part in an act of sexual penetration with a child and one count of attempting to take
part in an act of sexual penetration with a child.

In the Victorian County Court on Tuesday, Judge Joe Gullaci said Rogers had abused
his position of trust.

He said the court had a duty to protect young people who were confused and vulnerable
and looking to people in such positions for guidance.

"Those who are in a position of trust and abuse that position of trust ... must be
made aware that the courts will denounce such serious criminal offences and impose sentences
which deter others to offend as you did," Judge Gullaci said.

"You offended in a serious way against this vulnerable young person."

He rejected claims by Rogers that he committed the acts to help the youth.

"You believed that you were helping the victim ... rescuing the victim from homosexuality,"

Judge Gullaci said.

"You report going through the motions in order to assist the victim and that you were
not feeling particularly sexually aroused.

"You maintain you are not interested in homosexual activity.

"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that you were sexually aroused and received
sexual gratification from your offending."

In sentencing Rogers, the judge took into account his early guilty plea and immaturity
and sexual inexperience at the time of the offence.

He considered Rogers' good prospects of rehabilitation, low risk of reoffending and
lack of prior convictions.

He sentenced him to 28 months in jail, with 20 months to be suspended for two and a half years.

AAP bm/gfr/jl/de

KEYWORD: ROGERS

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